JIC RELEASE NO. 611 - Results: Two of 474 Test Positive for COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for March 24 – 27 for UOG Fieldhouse, Village-Based, Homebound; COVID-19 Community Testing on March 26 in Tiyan;Food Commodities Distribution Continues; DPH

Results: Two New Cases of COVID-19
Two (2) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 474 tests performed on Monday, March 22. Two (2) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine. 

To date, there have been a total of 7,786 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 134 deaths, 21 cases in active isolation, and 7,631 not in active isolation.

1The COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score accounts for the incidence of new cases, how well current testing identifies these cases, and the rate of spread. The ideal long-term goal is to sustain a CAR Score of 2.5 or less, which has been shown to correlate with very low to zero COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths. 

The following tables provide COVID-19 test results reported to the JIC on Tuesday, March 23,and reflects results Monday, March 22:

The following provides preliminary COVID-19 vaccinations reported to the JIC on Tuesday, March 23, for vaccinations administered from December 17 to March 22:

*Administering second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 4, 2021.

**Administering first doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 8, 2021.

***Administering second doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 29, 2021.

****Johnson &Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccinations began on March 15 and were developed as a one-dose series.

^As of March 22, 2021. Total doses administered and allotted doses differ as vaccinators were able to draw additional doses per vial. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s February 25, 2021 revision of their Fact Sheet relative to the Pfizer-BioNTech Emergency Use Authorization now states, “After dilution, one vial contains six doses of 0.3 mL. Vial labels and cartons may state that after dilution, a vial contains five doses of 0.3 mL. The information in this Fact Sheet regarding the number of doses per vial after dilution supersedes the number of doses stated on vial labels and cartons.” | ^^Reflects the previous allocation total of 86,560 and last received an allocation of 1,300 Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccines on March 8, 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for March 24 – 27 at UOG Fieldhouse
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue through Saturday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the UOG Fieldhouse. These clinics will administer first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and second doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not available at the UOG vaccination clinic at this time. Eligible residents are advised to schedule an appointment online via Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/vaccinateguMar23-27. 

If scheduling an appointment is not possible, walk-ins will be accepted at a limited rate of 15 per hour. Walk-ins wishing to avoid longer wait times are discouraged from lining up prior to the 10 a.m. opening and are asked to expect reasonable delays.

Upon arrival, individuals 60 years and older will be sent to the front of the line. Please bring a digital or hard copy appointment confirmation, a photo ID, and proof of Guam residency (Guam Driver's License, Guam ID, Green Card, US, FSM, Palau, or RMI Passport). Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. This ensures quicker processing and proper documentation.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those due for their second dose of the vaccine may get their second dose up to four (4) days early. The CDC further states that if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval and a delay in vaccination is unavoidable, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.

Village-Based COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Scheduled for March 26
DPHSS, in partnership with MCOG, and the Guam Department of Education, continues village-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the villages and locations listed below. Village-based clinic hours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m or while supplies last. Patients who are due for their second dose will be prioritized. Please bring a photo ID and COVID-19 immunization card. Although walk-ins are accepted, eligible village residents are encouraged to register with their respective mayor’s office. 

Homebound Vaccinations Continue March 24-26
DPHSS, in partnership with MCOG, continues homebound vaccinations for those pre-registered with their village mayor and meet eligibility criteria. Homebound vaccinations are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the villages and locations listed below: 

COVID-19 Community Testing on March 26 in Tiyan
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Mayors’ Council of Guam, Guam Department of Education, Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, and other GovGuam and federal agencies, continues COVID-19 community testing on Friday, March 26, at the Old Carnival Grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DPHSS will offer up to 150 COVID-19 tests on a first-come, first-served basis. 

COVID-19 testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at this community testing site. Individuals seeking COVID-19 testing to travel off-island may contact the DPHSS Northern Region Community Health Center at 635-7525/6 to schedule an appointment for testing.

Residents are reminded that this event is only a COVID-19 community testing. NO VACCINATIONS will be offered at this location. For the safety of the community and the nurses, only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Please bring a picture ID.

Food Commodities Distribution Continues
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS), continues the distribution of food commodities through each mayor at the village level.  Recipients will receive TEFAP food commodities per household that may include canned chicken, spaghetti sauce, mixed fruits, peaches, plums, kidney beans, yellow split peas, pistachios, hazelnuts, circle oat cereal, crispy hexagon cereal, and bottled cranapple juice. Food distribution will be available to village constituents only and residents should call their respective mayor’s office for more information. Participants are reminded to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and follow all traffic directions and signage.

Village Mayor’s distribution schedule for next week is as follows:

Enrolled Provider List for COVID-19 Vaccinations
Eligible Guam residents may contact any of the participating enrolled providers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

†Public and private clinics and pharmacies may become enrolled providers after first agreeing to participate in the DPHSS vaccination program. Enrolled providers must meet federal storage and handling requirements for COVID-19 vaccines as established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designate staff to complete CDC online training and certification courses, and enroll to report vaccine administration through DPHSS Immunization Registry to meet CDC reporting requirements. Enrolled providers will continue to receive COVID-19 vaccination allocations from DPHSS monthly if the island’s vaccination allocation supply permits and if they continue to uphold these requirements.

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2021-09, Relative to K-12 Schools 
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued DPHSS Guidance Memo 2021-09 relative to providing further clarification for schools adopting the three (3) feet social distancing for in-class operations for K-12 Schools (Schools). Schools should continue to abide by all the provisions in DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2021-02, which can be viewed here.  

DPHSS Guidance Memo 2021-09 details provisions for universal and correct use of face masks and physical distancing. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends middle and high school schools should only utilize three (3) feet social distancing in areas of low, moderate, or substantial community transmission. In areas of high community transmission, middle and high school students should be six (6) feet apart if cohorting is not possible.  Under Guam’s current COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score, the island is considered a low or moderate community transmission area. Should Guam’s CAR Score increase significantly, DPHSS may require all schools to revert to six (6) feet social distancing.

School administrators are encouraged to view the following resources alongside DPHSS Guidance Memos to ensure COVID-19 mitigation measures are met in operation:

• Guam K-12 Public and Private School, and IHE Re-opening Plan Template

• High Touch Surface Sanitization/Disinfection Guidance

• List of Other Resources

All In-Class Operating Plans for Schools must be emailed to PCOR3Plans@dphss.guam.gov. If plans have previously been submitted, such plans must be resubmitted in accordance with the minimum requirements set forth in this DPHSS Guidance Memorandum for Schools opting to adopt three (3) feet social distancing for in-class operations for K-12 schools. 

DPHSS’ initial approval of all submitted plans will be conditional until receipt of plans and compliance inspection by Division of Environmental Health (DEH).  For additional questions, please contact the DEH at 300-9579; 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

GBHWC Crisis Hotline

The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or are needing to talk to someone, GBHWC has experienced providers available and ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.